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| Format | Dissertation |
|---|---|
| Creator | Good, William Alexander |
| Title | A History of the General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America. Dissertation |
| Dissertation Note (type -- academic institution) | Dissertation -- Yale University |
| Date | 1967 |
| Extent of Work | 309 pp. |
| Abstract | The General Council of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America, of which this dissertation is a history, existed from 1867 until it merged with two other Lutheran bodies to form the United Lutheran Church in America in 1918. Origins of the General Council are related to a large extent to the confessional issue among some of the America's Lutherans, and particularly to the involvement of the Ministerium of Pennsylvania in the issue. Some Lutherans had been advocating an accommodation of the sixteenth century Lutheran Confessions to the nineteenth century American scene. Others believed that the only churches justified in using the name "Lutheran" were those which subscribed to the doctrines of the Reformation as they were originally given. The Ministerium of Pennsylvania, holding strongly to this latter view, led several synods in the formation of the Council in 1867 on this confessional basis, which the Council maintained throughout its existence. Most of its theological activity during its half century of existence concerned the practical application of the confessional position. It was influential in bringing together ultimately the less confessionally oriented bodies, at the same time helping in the Americanization process of the nation's Lutherans. The ministry of the General Council revolved largely around missionary activity including missions to immigrants, establishing congregations across the United States and in areas of Canada, and foreign mission outposts in India and Japan, especially. It also contributed significantly to liturigical and education work of the Lutherans in America. During its entire existence the Council was interested in unity and union among America's Lutherans. It participated and often led in many of the steps which contributed to this greater unity. This is evidenced in its willingness to converse with other Lutherans and to cooperate with them in numerous undertakings. At the same time the American social environment also influenced it and other Lutherans in ways that led to unity. Thus, by the end of the first decade of the twentieth century various forces both from within and without the Lutheran Church had combined to make merger of three bodies a reality. The precipitating factor was the quadri-centennial observance of the Reformation. The General Council took the lead in using this event to unite with the General Synod and the United Synod South to form the United Lutheran Church in America. While this still included a minority of America's Lutherans, it was to be followed by other mergers in the decades which have ensued. The United Lutheran Church itself has since merged to help form what is today known as the Lutheran Church in America. |
| Notes | UMI, printed in 1988. Book, in MadCat. |
| Call Number | MKI BX8046 G6 1967a; shelved with MKI dissertations |
| MKI Terms | Lutheran church/ Lutherans |